ordained; ordaining; ordains
1
: to invest (see invest entry 2 sense 1) officially (as by the laying on of hands) with ministerial or priestly authority
was ordained as a priest
2
a
: to establish or order by appointment, decree, or law : enact
we the people … do ordain and establish this Constitution—
U.S. Constitution
U.S. Constitution
b
: destine, foreordain
It is futile to try to avoid what destiny has ordained.
: to issue an order
so the gods have ordained
ordainer
noun
Examples of ordain in a Sentence
She is an ordained minister.
The process was ordained by law.
Recent Examples on the Web
He was ordained in 1976, and has served in various positions over his 40 years serving the Catholic Church, including director of Catholic Charities and director of the Haitian Apostolate, according to the Archdiocese of Miami website.
—Lauren Costantino, Miami Herald, 31 Oct. 2025
In 1694, Jonathan Swift is ordained a deacon in the Church of Ireland.
—Literary Hub, 25 Oct. 2025
The teachings of the two traditions align on many major issues, but the Catholic Church does not ordain women and generally does not allow priests to marry.
—Joshua McElwee, USA Today, 23 Oct. 2025
For instance, the network included connections between cardinals who worked together in Vatican departments, between those who ordained, or were ordained by, another and between those who were friends.
—Jack Murtagh, Scientific American, 11 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for ordain
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Lauren Costantino, Miami Herald, 31 Oct. 2025
In 1694, Jonathan Swift is ordained a deacon in the Church of Ireland.
—Literary Hub, 25 Oct. 2025
The teachings of the two traditions align on many major issues, but the Catholic Church does not ordain women and generally does not allow priests to marry.
—Joshua McElwee, USA Today, 23 Oct. 2025
For instance, the network included connections between cardinals who worked together in Vatican departments, between those who ordained, or were ordained by, another and between those who were friends.
—Jack Murtagh, Scientific American, 11 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for ordain
Cite this Entry
“Ordain.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/ordain. Accessed 4 Nov. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
ordain
verb
or·dain
ȯr-ˈdān 
1
: to make a person a Christian minister or priest by a special ceremony
2
a
: decree entry 2
it was ordained by law
b
: destine sense 1
we seem ordained to fail
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